MAHE celebrates life of Katingeri Krishna Hebbar to mark his birth anniversary
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) celebrated the life of eminent artist Katingeri Krishna Hebbar more famously known as KK Hebbar by releasing a book and two short films to mark his 110th birth anniversary at an online event – Celebrating Hebbar on June 15. Lt Gen (Dr) MD Venkatesh, vice-chancellor, MAHE released the book Life and Art of K.K. Hebbar, published by Manipal Universal Press (MUP) to mark the occasion.
Dr Venkatesh said, MAHE encourages students of professional courses such as medicine, architecture, and engineering to engage with music, dance and visual arts. It is as part of this endeavour that the University has established Hebbar Gallery and Art Centre – a space that provides shelter to creative expression and artistic activities.
MUP has brought out the book on Hebbar who hailed from the coastal region and gained national fame as an artist, in continuation of the University’s efforts to encourage its students to engage in creative fields. At the time when the discussion on education policy is going on, MAHE already has prepared plans that will be implemented step-by-step and in an inclusive manner, taking artists, writers, poets, performing artists of this region.
In a special address, Dr H Vinod Bhat, executive vice-president, MAHE said, “Hebbar was undoubtedly the most celebrated and internationally acclaimed artist to have emerged from Dakshina Kannada region. It is difficult and almost impossible to describe his contribution to culture and heritage. Hebbar was greatly influenced by western art movements as well as thoughts of the modern era. Hebbar’s art was influenced by the local Canara traditions and not by Kerala culture as some people thought.
On the inspiring personality of KK Hebbar, Lina Vincent, a well-known art-historian from Goa, said, the artistic language of KK Hebbar was developed by himself and he was one of the pacesetters in the Indian art sphere.
Jayadev Bhat, said his father Prof Ku Shi Haridas Bhat, the original author of the Kannada Book, and Hebbar were close friends and had been in regular contact over several years. Sandhya Vasudev, who translated the book into Kannada with Rukma Vasudev, shared her experience during the process of translation. To translate the book on KK Hebbar is nothing but following his steps across the pathway he walked, she said.
The two short films, titled – Hebbar through Portraits at HGAC and Hebbar’s Legacy were screened at the event. Neeta Inamdar, Nikhil Govind and Srijana Kaikini conducted the discussion on the book and his works.
This post has been published in arrangement with Jaideep J Shenoy
